Visiting Australia? There’s more to see than just Sydney

“You’re Australian? I’ve always wanted to visit! Are you from Sydney?”

There are plenty of stereotypes about Australia. We all live in the desert, we have pet koalas and ride kangaroos to work, and supposedly everything we eat has Vegemite on it, but the other stereotype is that we all come from Sydney.

Why does it have to be that we are all from Sydney? Do we need to live with a clunky old bridge in our backyard or an opera house that lights up once a year just to keep people interested in it? Why not one of the other beautiful cities in Australia?

So here’s my run-down of just a few of the fun things to do when visiting Australia that aren’t Sydney!

Perth

People look at the distance from the East coast of Australia to the West and often get turned off but it’s well worth the trek. Filled with plenty of great wineries and natural wildlife, think swimming with dolphins at Monkey Mia, Western Australia and it’s capital, Perth, has plenty to offer.

A short distance ferry ride from central Perth is Rottnest Island, home to quokka’s – small kangaroo-like creatures – as well as plenty of unspoiled beaches and bay. Unspoiled why? Because no cars are allowed on Rottnest Island which makes bicycle riding all the go!

Adelaide

My hometown and fondly known as RADelaide by its residents, Adelaide is the city you head to if you want to sip on fine wine, see a festival, or be a spectator of the Tour Down Under, the largest cycling event in the Southern Hemisphere.

Known as the festival state of Australia, Adelaide has a choice of festivals throughout the year with the best time to visit being in the late summer months when things really ramp up. Kickstarting the year there is Womad, the world music festival, before quickly hosting the Adelaide Finge Festival, managing to pull big names from across Australia and the world to participate in comedy, dance, street performances, or installation art.
If art to you is the purr of an engine then the Clipsal 500 also on might be the type of music to your ears you prefer.

Brisbane

Dubbed Bris-Vegas, Brisbane is where sun, surf, and the party lifestyle meets.
Head down to the Gold Coast, a 45minutes outside of the main city to make the most of the glitz and glam the state has to offer. Check-in to the super lavish Palazzo Versace before heading for a night at the casinos, including the ritzy Jupiters Casino.

If glitz and glam isn’t quite your thing keep heading North to make the most of the natural beauty the state has to offer. Experience Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, or one of the states amazing islands.

Darwin

Darwin despite its small size packs quite a punch… should I say bite if you stop to visit.
In the center of the city is Crocosaurus Cove, a sanctuary and the worlds largest display of Australian reptiles and saltwater crocodiles. Most of the animals featured in the sanctuary are from the Northern Territory, including the freshwater fish and reptiles. If you’re lucky you might even be able to hold a baby crocodile!

Hobart

Mainlanders, as they call us, we give Tasmanian’s a lot of grief about having ‘two heads’ but I’m beginning to think that it’s because we’re jealous of the beautiful piece of paradise they live on.Seafood is immensely popular in Hobart and the best bit is that it’s fresh! Don’t miss trying out local scallops, fresh crayfish, or Tasmania’s blue-eye trevalla.
Whilst feasting on the superb seafood don’t forget to pair it with one of the cities delicious local wines – Derwent, Huon and Coal River Valleys wineries are all nearby and I’d recommend them all!

Melbourne

Whilst Sydney is comparable to Los Angeles, Melbourne is the New York of Australia. You won’t find too many hulking skyscrapers but you will find a city with a rich cultural background, as well as some of the best food and drink in the country.
Spend your day wandering Melbourne’s Laneways, constantly changing with new artists making their mark on the city whether it be with street art, quirky stores or cafes. There are often free events in Federation Squareso grab a coffee from Degraves Street and settle in.

Read more about my home and the world’s most livable city, Melbourne, in these posts!

It’s over to you:

Which is your favourite Australian capital city?

Nicole is a frequent flying (sometimes) freelance writer with a love of aviation, cultural travel, and affordable luxury. When not studying towards her Masters or planning the next adventure she works as Digital Coordinator at one of Australia's top sports teams.

4 Comments

[…] Loving the travel post by Nicole which defies the stereotypes of Australia and recommends some fun things to do that aren’t in Sydney! Personally, we would love a little trip to Melbourne right about now. Read more here. […]

Peter

December 5, 2017 at 7:05 pm

Is there something more interesting in Darwin except of crocodiles?) Just gonna go over there in a month. And could u give some info about gamble side of the city? Just need to know. Maybe there will be couple free nights.

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